Mighty Mississippi Self Guided Minneapolis Riverside Tour
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September 2026
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Adults
Age 13 and over
Children
Age 12 and under
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Non-refundable booking. Same price on Viator, Outty earns a commission.
Traveler rating
4.1/5
Based on 7 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Mighty Mississippi Self Guided Minneapolis Riverside Tour worth booking?
Mighty Mississippi Self Guided Minneapolis Riverside Tour is a 0.8-hour experience in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, United States, from $9 per person. It scores 52 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 4.1/5 rating across 7 reviews. This booking is non-refundable, so pick your date carefully. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 52 / 100
- Rating
- 4.1/5 (7)
- Duration
- 0.8 hours
- From
- $9 per person
Take a self-guided tour along the iconic Mississippi River with award-winning storyteller Frank Bures. From Nicollet Island to Gold Medal Park, delve into 12,000 years of vibrant river history. Cross the Hennepin Avenue
What you get
About this experience
Take a self-guided tour along the iconic Mississippi River with award-winning storyteller Frank Bures. From Nicollet Island to Gold Medal Park, delve into 12,000 years of vibrant river history. Cross the Hennepin Avenue Bridge, pass Stone Arch Bridge, and explore the Guthrie Theater. Along the way, discover tales of St. Anthony Falls, Guinness World Record paddling attempts, the Minneapolis Post Office, Spirit Island, and Nicollet Island's peculiar inhabitants. Uncover the mystery of the Grain Belt Sign's revival, marvel at bull sharks' Mississippi swim, and learn about the 450-mile canoe race. Frank's near-death experience in the river adds a personal touch. This tour will leave you with an appreciation for the Mississippi's profound impact on those living along its shores. Get unlimited use of this tour before your booking date and after it. You can use the virtual tour option at home, too. Once you have booked, you will receive instructions and a unique code to download the tour.
What's included
Included
- Lifetime access to this tour in English
- VoiceMap app for Android and iOS
- Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata
Not included
- Tickets or entrance fees to any museums or other attractions en route
- Smartphone and headphones
- Transportation
- Food and drink
What you'll see and do
Embark on a captivating journey along the iconic Mississippi River, North America's most significant waterway, delving into its rich history spanning 12,000 years.
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Start your tour on Nicollet Island, named after the cartographer Joseph Nicollet, where you'll explore the vibrant surroundings and set the stage for an enriching exploration.
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Discover the Bell of Two Friends, a symbolic landmark along the river, echoing tales of camaraderie and connections that have thrived in the vicinity over the years.
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Grain Belt Brew House
Pass by the Grain Belt Sign, a famous beer advertisement, and uncover the intriguing story of its rescue after two decades in darkness, showcasing the resilience of iconic landmarks.
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Cross the Hennepin Avenue Bridge, where you'll be treated to stand-out facts about the magnificent Mississippi and witness the bustling activity of the river from this vantage point.
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First Bridge Park
At First Bridge Park, follow the river along the western bank, absorbing the natural beauty and historical significance of the area, with tales of resilient individuals shaping the river's narrative.
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Pass architect Léon Arnal's Art Deco masterpiece, housing the Minneapolis Post Office, and discover the historical significance of this architectural gem along the riverfront.
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Visit the St. Anthony Falls Visitor Center to delve into fascinating stories about St. Anthony Falls, its curious upstream journey, and the eroding limestone riverbed that shaped its unique course.
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Wander through the Central Mississippi Riverfront Regional Park, where the river's beauty is complemented by tales of Spirit Island, a sacred site below St. Anthony Falls, and its significance to the Dakota people.
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St. Anthony Falls
Experience the majesty of St. Anthony Falls and learn about its historical importance, including how it played a role in the lives of generations of Dakota children born at Spirit Island.
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Pass by the iconic Stone Arch Bridge, a testament to engineering marvels, and hear captivating stories about the river and the resilient individuals who have contributed to its history.
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Mill Ruins Park
Explore Mill Ruins Park, uncovering the industrial history of the area, and relive the tales of the grueling 450-mile canoe race from Bemidji to Minneapolis.
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Mill City Museum
Discover the Mill City Museum, a site steeped in industrial history, and learn about its vital role in shaping the narrative of the Mississippi River and the lives of those along its shores.
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Guthrie Theater
Conclude your tour beside the Guthrie Theater, reflecting on the stories shared, and appreciating the artistic and cultural significance that the river has bestowed upon this landmark.
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Pause at the 35W Bridge Memorial, honoring those affected by a tragic event, and reflect on the resilience of communities along the Mississippi River.
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Gold Medal Park
End your walking tour with an exploration of Gold Medal Park, gaining a new appreciation for how the Mississippi has flowed through the people's lives along its shores.
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Where it starts and ends
Meeting point
Minneapolis-Saint Paul
The tour begins on Nicollet Island at the intersection of Merriam St and East Island Ave, at the west end of the Merriam Bridge. There is some parking on the Island and at St. Anthony Main, across the Merriam Bridge.
Hotel pickup
No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.
Ends at
The tour ends at the Gold Medal Park sign.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.
- Languages
- en
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 15 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- VoiceMap Audio Tours
Know before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 7 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
5 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
Traveler reviews
7 verified traveler reviews for Mighty Mississippi Self Guided Minneapolis Riverside Tour. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Great way to tour the Mississippi River
I am a person that cannot follow walking directions using a GPS. The man who recorded this tour made it idiot proof!! If I was going the wrong way, I knew it right away 😂 Aside from that, visiting the Mississippi River has been a bucket list item for me for YEARS. This tour provided so much history, how engineering decisions were made to preserve the river, all about grain and the Gold Medal flour company, plus some extra facts about his one like which always adds charm to things like this.
via Tripadvisor
Needs More History
We were expecting more history of the Twin Cities along the Mississippi and less stories of the author's canoe trips
Response from the operator: Hi there, I'm sorry that the content wasn't as informative as you hoped. The tour is part of a two-part loop along the Mississippi. The River Walk tour has a bit more about the historic mills, in case you get a chance to come back. Thank you for your honest feedback, as this helps us ensure that tour content remains valuable and that improvements can be made over time. Best, Helene
via Viator
Requires an app to be...
Requires an app to be downloaded, which wasn’t difficult at all. And the app worked great. Impressive how it marries to GPS to know exactly when to continue the narrative. Definitely download the app in advance. This particular tour was good, but a bit limited and spent too much time with the narrator reflecting upon his personal experiences. I would have preferred more history.
via Viator
Disappointing
First of all, I appreciate the VoiceMap people giving me a credit for a future tour based on my negative post on their website. I was disappointed in the Frank Bures production because there was too much generic information regarding canoeing and not enough location specific info. For example, at one point, I was at the base of these massive grain silos. It was actually awe inspiring. Instead of giving basic information on these man-made marvels, Mr. Bures describes the natives use of canoes. The only information he provides about the silos is, "Go to the museum." Mr. Bures responded to my review by writing that the silos are "covered extensively in another tour..." An "extensive" treatise of the mill is not necessary, but when I'm on a walking tour and passing by a noteworthy site, I would like to get some basic facts of the place instead of being told that the French preferred native canoes to their own watercraft.
Response from the operator: Hi there, Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us! I'm sorry the tour wasn't quite what you expected. Our river tour does focus primarily on the waterway's history, with canoes playing a starring role in that story. As Frank mentioned, we do have another tour that explores those impressive grain silos in much more detail. We'd love for you to check it out with your credit if architectural landmarks are more your style! We hope to see you on another tour soon, and thanks again for your feedback. Best, Helene
via Tripadvisor
Amazing river tour!
Will tell my friends about this one. Super fun and interesting, and the directions were easy to follow. Highly recommended.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 0.8 hours
- Free cancellation
- Non-refundable
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Hotel pickup
- No pickup, meet at start point
- Booked in 30 days
- 2
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Why this scores 52
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Mighty Mississippi Self Guided Minneapolis Riverside Tour: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Minneapolis-Saint Paul.
How much does Mighty Mississippi Self Guided Minneapolis Riverside Tour cost?
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Prices start at $9 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Minneapolis-Saint Paul usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Mighty Mississippi Self Guided Minneapolis Riverside Tour take?
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Plan for about 0.8 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Minneapolis-Saint Paul is not rushed.
Is Mighty Mississippi Self Guided Minneapolis Riverside Tour worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 52 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.1/5 across 7 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable culture & history in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Mighty Mississippi Self Guided Minneapolis Riverside Tour?
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No. This experience is sold on a non-refundable basis, so only book a date you are confident about. Similar experiences in the city do offer free cancellation if flexibility matters more than price.
Is Mighty Mississippi Self Guided Minneapolis Riverside Tour suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 0.8-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Mighty Mississippi Self Guided Minneapolis Riverside Tour?
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Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Minneapolis-Saint Paul can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Minneapolis-Saint Paul and add a light layer if any part of the 0.8-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Mighty Mississippi Self Guided Minneapolis Riverside Tour start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Minneapolis-Saint Paul within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Minneapolis-Saint Paul?
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The Twin Cities cover Mississippi mill district history, chain of lakes bike and paddle tours, Mall of America trips, brewery crawls in Northeast and winter ice experiences. Seasonal swing is extreme, so honest weather guidance matters. On Outty we rank every Minneapolis-Saint Paul experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include The Escape Game: Epic 60-Minute Adventures at the Mall of America, Narrated Scenic Tour on the Minneapolis Trolley, St. Paul Historic Cave Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Minneapolis-Saint Paul?
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June to September, with winter activities from December to February. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Minneapolis-Saint Paul?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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